Wearing the red velvet blindfold, Ritsu refused assistance and managed to feel his way to the door on his own.
However, when he tried to push it open, his hand met a warm, solid "wall." He was about to explore this strange "wall" when Vodka quickly coughed and spoke up, "Ahem… Macallan, that's not the door you're pushing."
"Then what is it?"
Vodka wiped the cold sweat forming on his cheek. Beside him, Vermouth lowered her head, trying to stifle her laughter, the scene was truly unexpected.
"It's me."
Gin was holding a match, about to light the cigarette in his mouth, when Ritsu, groping around blindly, ended up placing his hand on Gin's chest.
"…Gin, it's you."
A deep sense of social death washed over him. Ritsu awkwardly withdrew his hand, silently cursing Vermouth. She had clearly known the door was open, why hadn't she warned him? Thinking back to how he had just patted around Gin's chest… better not dwell on it.
"What are you doing here?" Gin frowned at Vermouth, his tone displeased.
"Is it strange for me to be here?" Vermouth casually draped her arm over Gin's shoulder, smiling seductively. "Or are you playing hard to get, trying to make me care about you?"
"Heh." Gin chuckled but didn't respond. His gaze shifted to Ritsu, who was trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. "Have you fully understood the mission?"
"Not yet. Sir told me to ask Vermouth for the details."
"Oh? Then let her take you back to Tokyo." Gin lit his cigarette with a lighter and said deadpanned, "Vodka, we're leaving."
"Yes, Aniki."
Vermouth turned to Macallan. "Are you sure you don't need a hand?"
"No."
"There are quite a few traps here. If you trigger one, it'll be troublesome."
"…Please."
Knowing when to back down was important. Reluctantly, Ritsu grabbed the sleeve of Vermouth's clothing and let her guide him forward. This time, she took a different route than before, memorizing the layout of this place was clearly no easy task.
After about twelve minutes of walking, he finally felt light again, and the temperature was noticeably warmer. It seemed they had left the boss's residence and returned to the outside.
Once inside the car, he fumbled for the seatbelt and fastened it, instantly going on high alert. If he were riding with Gin, he'd definitely use the return trip to rest for seven hours. But with the dangerous Vermouth sitting beside him, he chose to stay awake, for the sake of his dignity.
"Not going to sleep?" she asked.
Hearing her say that only reinforced his decision not to. "I'm not tired."
"Alright then. Once we're back in Tokyo, let's find a restaurant. I'll brief you on the mission details over dinner."
Ritsu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"You suddenly returned to Japan from the U.S., was it because of this mission?"
Vermouth noticed the red light ahead and gently pressed the brake. Smiling, she said, "What if I said I came back just to see you?"
Ritsu felt like he should just stay silent. Why ask questions when he already knew she liked being cryptic? He was just asking for trouble.
"Forget I asked."
Even without driving, the long journey had left him exhausted.
By the time they arrived within Tokyo, it was already evening. Having only eaten breakfast, Ritsu was indeed hungry so he didn't refuse Vermouth's dinner invitation.
"But is this really okay? If you go out to eat with me using Chris Vineyard's identity, it might cause trouble. I don't want to end up in tomorrow's entertainment headlines."
Ritsu removed the blindfold but didn't open his eyes right away, the light-blocking effect was even stronger than Gin's cloth, and after being in darkness for so long, he felt a bit sensitive to light.
"Don't worry. This face won't appear in the entertainment section."
Surprised by her unusual modesty, Ritsu turned to make a remark, only to freeze when he saw her face.
Long grape-purple hair tied into a neat ponytail. Dark gray eyes. She looked more mature than when he had seen her two years ago, her youthful air gone.
The flicker of surprise in his eyes didn't escape Vermouth. She teased with a smile, "Oh? You like this type?"
Of course not.
He simply hadn't expected Vermouth to disguise herself as Hayasaka, his former subordinate in his first stint as Inspector. Looking away, a trace of unease crept into his heart. Could she know his real identity?
No matter what, he had to keep acting. Composing himself, he asked casually, "How did you come up with that face on the spot?"
"I saw a police car parked by the roadside earlier. A pretty woman got out, so I decided to copy her appearance," Vermouth said, glancing at her light blue blouse. "Judging by her uniform, she's at least an assistant inspector."
"Using a police officer's face to have dinner with a criminal… only you would think of that."
So it was just a coincidence. Ritsu couldn't help but feel relieved. Thankfully, he hadn't reacted too strongly.
"Doesn't it make things more exciting?"
"I don't share your twisted sense of fun. As long as it doesn't end up in the headlines, disguise yourself however you like." Ritsu pushed open the car door and looked back at her indifferently. "I'm hungry. If you don't get out, I'm going to eat on my own."
Beika Central Building, the observation restaurant on the top floor was known as the most suitable high-end dining spot for couples and also the most expensive Western restaurant in Tokyo. He hadn't expected Vermouth to choose a place like this.
Ritsu deliberately ignored the "most suitable for couples" part. Glancing at his outfit, he noted it wasn't particularly formal, but at least it wasn't inappropriate. Black clothing still carried a certain sense of formality.
Taking the elevator to the top floor, they were seated by the window. At this hour, there weren't many diners. Aside from their good looks, they didn't attract much attention, settling instead into a quiet corner suitable for conversation.
Starving, Ritsu didn't hold back. He flipped through the menu, searching for dishes that caught his interest, fully intending to make this wealthy celebrity pay.
"Beef bourguignon, truffle soup, plus a mushroom puff pastry and crème brûlée."
The waiter nodded politely and turned to Vermouth. "And for you, ma'am?"
"Lobster salad, scallop risotto, and a bottle of rosé."
"Very well. I'll place your order."
Ritsu picked up a wet towel to clean his hands, then looked up at Vermouth. "Can we talk while eating? It'll save time, I'd like to get back and rest early."
"Of course. But before that, there's something I want to confirm."
"What is it?"
"APTX4869, what stage is its development at now?"